Every generation has a defining coming-of-age comedy, from Animal House in the 1970s to Lady Bird in the 2010s. If you were coming of age at the turn of the millennium, however, you almost certainly remember American Pie. The 1999 film told a familiar story—a bunch of teens making a pact to lose their virginity before the end of high school—yet it was the movie’s cast and no holds barred jokes that turned it into a pop culture phenomenon.
The star-studded cast included Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Natasha Lyonne, Tara Reid, Alyson Hannigan, Mena Suvari, Eugene Levy, and numerous other A-listers of the time. But for one actress, Shannon Elizabeth, the film offered a breakout role. She played Nadia, an attractive foreign exchange student from the Czech Republic pursued by the film's protagonist, Jim (Biggs), and quickly became a sex symbol of the era. Today, she’s living a whole new life with a completely different job—her fourth major career change since her first days in entertainment. Read on to see Shannon Elizabeth now and find out what she’s been up to!
RELATED: See Paul Walker's Daughter Stun in a Cut-Out Dress at "Furious 9" Premiere.
Before Shannon was an actress, she was a successful model.
Albert L. Ortega/Getty ImagesShannon grew up in Texas, but moved to New York City shortly after graduating high school to become a model. It wasn’t long before she moved once again to Los Angeles to sign with Ford Models, and later with Elite. During that time, she started taking acting classes with a range of coaches, landed an agent, and eventually began appearing in TV shows and movies.
RELATED: See Frances Bean Cobain at 28, a Year Older Than Her Dad Was When He Died.
She’s been acting ever since American Pie.
Amanda Edwards/WireImage via Getty ImagesShannon landed her first TV role in 1996, was cast as Nadia in American Pie in 1999, and has had a steady stream of work in Hollywood ever since. After her breakout role in the raunchy comedy, she appeared in That 70’s Show, Love Actually, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Scary Movie, and of course, an American Pie sequel. Her most recent release was in 2019, when she starred in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. Today, she has two projects in post-production, meaning we can likely count on seeing a whole lot more of the actor in the near future.
For more entertainment news sent directly to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
She also became a leading celebrity poker player.
Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage via Getty ImagesThough Shannon has been busy acting, she also had a career as a top celebrity poker player between 2005 and 2010. During that time, she was reportedly visiting Las Vegas up to three times per month to compete in poker games with professional players. In 2005, she competed in the Main Event of the 2005 World Series of Poker. The following year, she won $55,000 in a celebrity tournament at Caesar’s Palace hotel, beating 83 other entertainers and poker players along the way.
She now runs an animal rescue foundation.
Mike Pont/Getty ImagesShannon has long been vocal about her love for animals, and in 2001, she founded a non-profit dog and cat rescue called Animal Avengers. A decade later, she decided to broaden her animal rights work to include wildlife conservation, and developed a particular passion for fighting the poaching crisis in Africa.
A far cry from Hollywood, Shannon now lives in Cape Town, South Africa, and runs an animal rescue foundation in her name. The Shannon Elizabeth Foundation works to support conservation efforts in that region, with a particular focus on fighting big game hunting.
RELATED: See Heidi Klum's Daughter Leni Looking Like Her Twin in New Selfies.
